The European Business Aviation Association has issued a call alongside other air transport associations for decarbonisation initiatives to be prioritized in any allocation of Covid-19 recovery funding.
In an open letter sent to European Union (EU) politicians, 13 different industry bodies including the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) said that investments that ensure an accelerated deployment of existing decarbonisation solutions and adequate investments to bring new technologies forward should be at the heart of the EU’s COVID-19 recovery strategy.
Commenting on the joint letter, EBAA Secretary-General Athar Husain Khan said, “We have an opportunity to rebuild better by reducing air transport emissions in the most cost-efficient way.
“Business aviation’s continuous investments in sustainability, health and safety, are the new normal. These support measures will help our sector regain its economic viability – a prerequisite for safeguarding both air connectivity and our ability to keep investing in decarbonisation.”
In the meantime, existing financial instruments, such as loans, could also be made available to provide urgent relief, added the EBAA.
Measures the letter calls for include: boosting the production and uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in Europe through a dedicated and stable set of policy measures and public investment plans; implementing a green incentive scheme for airlines and aircraft operators to replace older aircraft with more modern and environmentally friendly aircraft; an increase in public funding and public co-funding rates for civil aviation research and innovation; continued investment in the European Air Traffic Management system, and investment in sustainable airport and heliport infrastructure.
The open letter can be viewed on the EBAA’s website here.
